This web site is focused on gleaning a "gold nugget" from the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the current day of the month. The idea was first proposed to me years ago. After trying it, I found myself seeing the scenarios described in proverbs in my daily living. The option for making wiser decisions was becoming more apparent. The Book of Wisdom has lived up to its billing. Proverbs should not be the entirety of your bible reading, but it can be a valuable part of your daily discipline.

The Needy

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 31

Gold Nugget

Verse 9:“Open
your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”

Commentary

Of all of our
spiritual depth and maturity, the work mentioned in today’s “gold nugget”
demonstrates true religion.“Open
your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” True religion as also mentioned
in James 1:27 says, “Pure and
undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and
widows in their trouble,andto keep
oneself unspotted from the world” It is important to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
It shows the compassion we have for God and our desire to please Him. Many
Christians feel that avoiding doing this or that is what makes a good
Christian. We need to be reminded that it isn’t as much what we don’t do that
defines us as Christians near as much as what we do that defines us. When we
make sacrifices of ourselves to benefit those that are in need, we demonstrate
the love that God has for us and wants for us to have for others. I like how
this “gold nugget” doesn’t just tell us to feed, clothe and shelter the poor. It says, “Open your mouth, judge
righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” That is to say, it isn’t
just the things we do to meet their natural needs, but to take a sincere
interest in their mental and spiritual needs. When we get the right attitude
about meeting spiritual needs, we will find that we are meeting the needs of
more than just the poor. Again the verse says, “plead the cause of
the poor and needy”. Some people that are in need may be
financially established. We are called to minister to the “needs” of everyone.
The demonstration of that may be financial or spiritual. Let’s open our minds
today and take on the proper perspective towards religion and supplying needs
to those who lack.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for opening our minds to be
complete ministers that meet the needs of those around us in whatever way they present themselves. Amen